Nursery funding - am I entitled or not?

Not entitled if you don't work, even if you have a partner and they work full time. If a couple both need to be working and if single you need to be working full time. The gov website is correct x

This is what I get confused about too. My daughter is 1 already and I want to put her in nursery for September. I read on the GOV site that you should be. But then I have other mums say, you don’t have to be and you will get it. I have just received the letter but also, you need to get a code for it. Working or not, you should be fine with it. Just have to update your application every 3months. xo

You have to be earning a certain amount per week so it depends what your UC payment is weekly - i doubt you'll be eligible. I think it works out at minimum wage for 16 hours a week

Seems a bit counter intuitive to offer funding to help people get back into work but won’t give it to people who aren’t currently in work… preventing them from being able to find work because we can’t afford childcare.

@Lorraine what letter did you receive and where did you apply for it? X

You apply on the gov website but you have to agree to the terms every 3 months to say that you're working and earning enough to be eligible. If you're not working you won't be eligible. Most jobs would give enough notice to start that you would be able to sort out childcare before starting work so this is why it's only given to those already working. If you're on universal credit then rather than government funded hours they can reimburse up to 85% of childcare fees however this is in arrears and you have to pay up front first. The reality is that you would have known about childcare fees before having a child so the government expect you to have factored that into your decision to have a child. We decided that childcare was too expensive (even with funded hours you pay a supplement fee) and so I quit work to look after our boys and my husband is able to support us with just his wage, we don't get as many holidays but it's not worth me going back to work to only come home with around £50 a month x

@Georgia thank you that’s really useful to know. I’ll look into the 85% reimbursement from UC, but like yourself seems pointless as I’ll be paying more out than I’ve got coming in. My Baby turns 1 this week and she’s really ready to go a couple of mornings a week at nursery and start interacting with other babies and kids, it would do her so much good but now I’m gutted because it doesn’t look like she’ll be able to go and she’ll just be stuck at home with me :(

Here’s the link to apply & it’s a letter just after I have applied for it. When I did, I was on hold and they said they will contact me. xo https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-tax-free-childcare

Have you looked into local groups? We've got quite a few church type groups that are only £2 or even a trip to the park is free. Kids don't need nursery, being at home with you is the best thing for them at this age! X

@Georgia only one parent has to be working. I don’t work and we received it.

@Natalia how did you do it? Do you have the link? Because when I go on the government calculator it says I’m not entitled and it details quite clearly it’s for working parents. My partner works, but earns more than £183 per week and so I think it was based on that. I get UC atm

@Georgia we’ve tried baby groups and Ryme Times but she just wants to be off crawling running and playing around rather than sat on my lap clapping to songs, she doesn’t sit still. I take her for walks and to the park and do as much as I can with her but we’re still at home allot just me and her playing in the living room and having baby sensory stuff on tv intermittently. I just feel she needs more so I feel guilt that I’m not doing enough for me. She would only go to nursery for 2 mornings a week (4.5hrs a time) not full time. I think she’d love it. But sadly doesn’t look like she can go anyway

Yea we don't do groups that are structured just play ones where I get a bit of adult conversation while the kids play😂 honestly don't feel guilty at all!

We just did the form for the free hours and it said we are entitled.

Not entitled unless you earn over a certain amount a year - I’m confused though are you on maternity or unemployed?

@Clarice Unemployed now. I was self employed before I fell pregnant working as a Nanny, so I didn’t actually get any maternity just had to leave when I was having my baby. I don’t have that job to go back to anymore, in the very near future I’ll look for work but at the moment my baby is 1 and I look after her full time.

@Natalia where did you get the form? X

Ah I see. Unfortunately then I don’t think you’ll be entitled to any free hours until you’re back in work again.